Sealing system for a continuous feed system of a gasifier

ABSTRACT

A modular power generation system including a gasification reactor is disclosed for converting fuel, such as, but not limited to, biomass, to syngas to replace petroleum based fuels used in power generation. The system may include a reactor vessel with distinct reaction zones that facilitate greater control and a more efficient system. The system may include a sealing system for a continuous feed system of a gasifier enabling an inlet opening of a feedstock system to remain open yet seal the reactor without a mechanical system. The system may include a syngas heater channeling syngas collected downstream of the carbon layer support and to the pyrolysis reaction zone. The system may also include a syngas separation chamber configured to produce clean syngas, thereby requiring less filtering. The system may further include an agitator drive assembly that prevents formation of burn channels with in the fuel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to gasification systems and, moreparticularly, to gasification systems capable of using waste products asfuel to form clean synthetic gas (syngas) that is useful for powergeneration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gasification systems have been used for power generation by convertingbiomass fuel sources into combustible gases that contain nearly all ofthe energy of the biomass. The gasification systems convert carbonaceousmaterials, such as coal, biomass, biofuel, carbon dioxide, hydrogen andpetroluem, into charcoal, wood-oils, and tars using both combustion andpyrolysis with a controlled amount of oxygen or steam. The gasificationsystems produce syngas, which is used as a fuel within engines, such asinternal combustion engines and turbine engines. Syngas may be combustedat higher temperatures than other fuels courses, thereby making internalcombustion of syngas potentially more efficient than other fuel sources.

A challenging aspect of using gasification systems for power generationfrom waste fuel sources is efficiently producing power while handlingthe waste products developed within the systems. The highly efficientmethod of converting syngas to electric power is offset by powerconsumption in waste fuel preprocessing and gas cleaning. Thegasification byproducts including tars must be filtered from the syngasbefore the syngas can be burned in an engine, otherwise, the life of theengine will be greatly shortened.

Gasification systems used for power generation systems typically have alarge footprint, such as an acre or more, and are typically constructedon-site. As such, skilled tradesman are required to construct and oftento operate such a gasification system, which limits the locale in whichthe conventional gasification systems may be constructed efficiently.The costs associated with constructing and operating conventionalgasification systems in remote locales often outweighs the benefit ofthe power generated. Thus, a gasification system is needed that producessyngas efficiently with few contaminants and overcomes the challenges ofremote site construction and operation.

Many conventional gasifiers include mechanical inlet closure systemsconfigured to close an inlet of a reactor to prevent ingestion of airinto the reactor to create the pyrolysis process rather than enablecombustion of the fuel. While mechanical inlet closure systems aresuperior in sealing the reactor, such systems require that feedstock beprovided to reactors in a batch process only after the reactor isbrought offline and the mechanical inlet closure system is opened. Batchprocesses are typically time intensive. Thus, a need exists for a moreefficient reactor closure system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plasma assisted gasification system having a controlled zonegasification reactor is disclosed for converting fuel, such as, but notlimited to, biomass, to electricity. The gasification system can createelectricity from biomass by producing syngas to replace the need forpetroleum based fuels to engines, such as, but not limited to, dieselengines and turbine engines. The engines may operate at least partiallyon the syngas supplied by the syngas separation chamber. Thegasification system may be a modular system housed within a framefacilitating relatively easy transportation. The gasification system maybe a modular syngas powered power generation system that facilitateseasy shipment over land, sea, rail, or air, including being air droppedto any destination. The frame may have any appropriate configurationnecessary to facilitate transportation of the system from manufacturingsite to on-site location and between operation sites.

The plasma assisted gasification system may include a reactor vesselhaving one or more inlets, a pyrolysis reaction zone, a combustionreaction zone and a carbon layer support, wherein the pyrolysis reactionzone may be positioned above a combustion reaction zone, and thecombustion reaction zone may be positioned above a carbon layer support.The pyrolysis reaction zone may be positioned between an inner surfaceof the reactor vessel and an outer surface of a conduit forming aninlet, whereby the pyrolysis reaction zone may include at least oneplasma torch. The pyrolysis reaction zone may include a downstreamshield extending at least partially from an inner surface of the reactorvessel towards the conduit forming the inlet. The combustion reactionzone may be defined by at least one rotatable burner on an upstream sideof the combustion reaction zone, wherein the rotatable burner isconfigured to rotate within the reactor vessel to reduce the formationof burn channels in fuel held in the reactor vessel. The use of theburners define the combustion reaction zone. The reactor vessel may alsoinclude an ash collection zone positioned downstream from the carbonlayer support.

The system may also include an engine, which may be, but is not limitedto being, a turbine engine and a diesel engine, that operates at leastpartially on the syngas supplied by the syngas separation chamber and anelectric generator in communication with the engine and configured togenerate electricity from rotational movement of components of theengine. The gasification system may include a syngas heater channelingsyngas collected downstream of the carbon layer support and to thepyrolysis reaction zone.

The plasma assisted gasification system may include one or more sealingsystems for a continuous feed system of the gasifier. The sealing systemmay include a feedstock supply manifold in communication with an inletof the reactor. The continuous feed system enables the feedstock supplymanifold to act as a feed dryer while also having an open feedstockinlet opening yet sealing the reactor, thereby preventing the ingestionof air via the feed inlet to the reactor.

The sealing system may include a feedstock supply manifold incommunication with an inlet of a reactor, wherein the feedstock supplymanifold includes a feedstock inlet opening that is open to an ambientenvironment. The sealing system may include one or more pressuredistribution manifold in communication with the feedstock supplymanifold and one or more pressure relief chambers in fluid communicationwith the feedstock supply manifold, wherein the pressure relief chambermay be positioned downstream from the feedstock supply manifold and thepressure distribution manifold. The pressure distribution manifold maybe configured to supply fluid at a pressure higher than in the ambientenvironment. The sealing system may include one or more high pressurefluid sources in communication with one or more inlets in the pressuredistribution manifold to supply fluid at a pressure higher than a fluidpressure of gases in the ambient environment.

One or more pressure distribution manifolds may be in communication withthe feedstock supply manifold via an outlet opening of the feedstocksupply manifold. In one embodiment, the pressure distribution manifoldmay be concentric with the feedstock supply manifold. The pressuredistribution manifold may be in communication with the reactor and maybe in communication with the feedstock supply manifold via the reactor.The pressure relief chamber may be concentric with the feedstock supplymanifold. The sealing system may include a chimney in fluidcommunication with an outlet of the at least one pressure relief chambervia an exhaust plenum. The exhaust plenum may include an exhaust plenuminlet opening through which the feedstock supply manifold extends and towhich an outlet of the at least one pressure relief chamber is attached.An exhaust fan may be in communication with the chimney and positionedto exhaust fluid through the exhaust outlet of the chimney and to pullfluid from the at least one pressure relief chamber.

The high pressure fluid source may be in communication with at least oneinlet in the pressure distribution manifold and may pass exhaust gasfrom the engine. One or more upper high pressure fluid inlets in thefeedstock supply manifold may be positioned between the inlet and anoutlet of the feedstock supply manifold. The upper high pressure fluidinlet may be positioned between an upper feedstock level and the inletof the feedstock supply manifold. One or more auxiliary plasma torchesmay extend into the feedstock supply manifold and may be positionedbetween an upper feedstock level and an inlet of the feedstock supplymanifold.

The gasification system may also include an impure syngas recyclerpositioned in the reactor vessel for routing syngas together withcontaminants from a region downstream of the carbon layer support to thecombustion reaction zone. The syngas recycler may be formed from asyngas separation chamber and at least one burner. The syngas separationchamber may be positioned within the reactor vessel to separatecontaminants created during combustion in the combustion chamber fromthe syngas. The gasification system may also include a syngas recyclerpositioned in the reactor for routing syngas together with contaminantsfrom a region downstream of the carbon layer support to the combustionreaction zone. The syngas recycler may include a turbine positionedwithin a turbine assembly upstream from the syngas separation chambersuch that during operation separates syngas from contaminants in thesyngas such that the contaminants are located near an outer walldefining the syngas separation chamber and relatively uncontaminatedsyngas is located closer to a longitudinal axis of the syngas separationchamber. Contaminated syngas may be passed to the burners of theagitator drive assembly, where the contaminants are burned. The turbineassembly may be formed from a plurality of sidewalls forming a chamberthat extends from the carbon layer support to an outer wall forming thereactor vessel of the reaction chamber. At least one of the plurality ofsidewalls may have at least one inlet therein.

The gasification system may include an agitator drive assemblypositioned in the reactor vessel extending into the combustion reactionzone and defining at least a portion of the combustion reaction zonewith one or more burners. The burner may be rotatable within the reactorvessel to prevent formation of burn channels within the fuel. Thegasification system may include a plurality of rotatable burners thatextend radially outward from an outer surface of the conduit forming aportion of the agitator drive assembly. In one embodiment, the burnermay be rotated by rotating the agitator drive assembly. As such, theconduit forming a portion of the agitator drive assembly may alsoinclude a drive gear attached to a bottom portion of the agitator driveassembly and may be configured to drive the agitator drive assembly at arotational speed of less than about two revolutions per minute. Thegasification system may include a syngas separation chamber positionedin a hollow portion of the agitator drive assembly configured toseparate contaminants from syngas such that syngas with contaminants arepassed into the burner to remove the contaminants from the system. Avortex inducing device, such as, but not limited to a turbine, may belocated upstream from the syngas separation chamber to create a highspeed vortex sending contaminants in the syngas to the outer walls. Thecontaminants are routed to the through the burners to the combustionzone and the syngas is routed toward the engine.

The frame may be configured to form a trailer upon which at least aportion of, or the entirety of, the gasification system may be housed.In at least one embodiment, the frame may be a trailer sized andconstructed in conformity with applicable laws such that the trailer maybe pulled on public roadways. In at least one embodiment, components ofthe system, including, but not limited to, the reactor vessel, theengine, the generator, and the syngas filter may be positioned on theframe such that when the system is positioned in a stowed position, thecomponents of the system are contained within the frame such that theframe may be towed on a highway without components being placed in riskof being destroyed. The frame may also be inserted into a fully enclosedshipping container. In at least one embodiment, the frame, in a stowedposition, may have outer dimensions less than inner dimensions ofstandard 40 foot shipping container and therefore, may be configured tofit within a 40 foot long shipping container.

One or more of the plasma torches may be positioned such that an exit ofthe plasma torches is directed partially radially inward, nontangentialand nonradial in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of thereactor vessel, and may be positioned in a downstream directionnonparallel to the longitudinal axis, thereby, during use, forming ahelical pathway of pyrolysis gas, during use, within the fuel containedin the reactor vessel. The plasma torch may be positioned in adownstream direction nonparallel to the longitudinal axis such that theplasma torch is positioned between about five degrees and 20 degreesfrom a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the reactor vessel.

The gasification system may include an agitator drive assemblypositioned in the reactor vessel extending into the combustion reactionzone and defining at least a portion of the combustion reaction zonewith one or more burners. The burner may be rotatable within the reactorvessel to prevent formation of burn channels within the fuel. Thegasification system may include a plurality of rotatable burners thatextend radially outward from an outer surface of the conduit forming aportion of the agitator drive assembly. In one embodiment, the burnermay be rotated by rotating the agitator drive assembly. As such, theconduit forming a portion of the agitator drive assembly may alsoinclude a drive gear attached to a bottom portion of the agitator driveassembly and may be configured to drive the agitator drive assembly at arotational speed of less than about two revolutions per minute. Thegasification system may include a syngas separation chamber positionedin a hollow portion of the agitator drive assembly configured toseparate contaminants from syngas such that syngas with contaminants arepassed into the burner to remove the contaminants from the system.

A syngas exhaust conduit may be positioned within the agitator driveassembly and may have an inlet positioned upstream from an inlet to theburner, whereby the inlet to the syngas exhaust conduit may bepositioned radially inward from inner walls forming the syngasseparation chamber and the inlet to the at least one burner may bepositioned radially outward from the syngas exhaust conduit. In such aposition, syngas free of contaminants may be passed through the syngasexhaust conduit to an engine, and the syngas containing contaminants maybe sent to the burner to be recycled to remove the contaminants. In atleast one embodiment, the agitator drive assembly may include aplurality of burners that extend radially outward from an outer surfaceof the conduit forming a portion of the agitator drive assembly. Theagitator drive assembly may also include one or more ambient airsupplies that includes an outlet in direct fluid communication with theburners upstream from the burner outlet. Air may be supplied to thecombustor chamber if needed.

The gasification system may also include a fuel dryer in communicationwith and positioned upstream from the plasma assisted gasificationreaction chamber. The fuel dryer may be positioned upstream from theinlet to the reactor vessel. An exhaust gas inlet in the dryer may placean exhaust from the engine in fluid communication with the fuel dryersuch that exhaust gases may be passed to the dryer to dry the fuel. Theinlet to the reactor vessel may be sealed with fuel positioned in theinlet and exhaust gases from the engine. The gasification system mayalso include a fuel shredder in communication with and positionedupstream from the fuel dryer to shred the fuel before being feed to theinlet.

The gasification system may also include one or more syngas filters influid communication with the plasma assisted gasification reactor vesseland positioned downstream from the carbon layer support and upstream ofthe engine. In one embodiment, the syngas filter may be formed from awater based scrubber that quickly quenches the syngas after formation tolimit the formation of NOx and to remove other contaminants before beinginjected into an engine.

The gasification system may also include a syngas heater for heating thesyngas before being passed to the engine. In at least one embodiment,the syngas heater may be positioned in the pyrolysis reaction zone suchthat heat from the pyrolysis reaction zone heats syngas flowing throughthe syngas heater. The syngas heater may be formed from at least oneconduit in direct fluid communication with the syngas collection chamberbetween the carbon layer support and the ash collection zone. Theconduit forming the syngas heater may be formed from a conduit that ispositioned at least in part radially outward from a feed inlet conduitforming at least a portion of the inlet of the reactor vessel. Theconduit forming the syngas heater may have at least one outlet in thepyrolysis reaction zone such that the syngas is exhausted into thepyrolysis reaction zone. The syngas heater conduit may be formed from atleast one exhaust conduit having a support bearing that bears on anouter surface of the feed inlet conduit forming at least a portion ofthe inlet of the reactor vessel. The syngas heater conduit may berotatable about the outer surface of the feed inlet conduit. In at leastone embodiment, the syngas heater conduit may be coupled to theagitation device assembly and may thus be rotatable.

An advantage of the gasification system is that the seal system enablesthe feedstock supply manifold to maintain an open inlet throughout usewhile sealing the reactor, thereby enabling feedstock to be placed inthe feedstock supply manifold at any time, regardless of whether thereactor is operating.

Another advantage of the gasification system is that the seal system,via the auxiliary plasma torches, prevents the emission of biologicalcontaminants found within the feedstock.

Still advantage of the gasification system is that household rubbish maybe used as shredded fuel to create syngas, thereby reducing the dieselfuel consumption in power generation by up to 90 percent and eliminatingrubbish with minimal contaminant discharge in the air.

Another advantage of this system is that the gasification systemsubstantially reduces contaminates in the syngas that is produced,thereby producing a syngas that requires less filtering and is morereadily usable in an engine without requiring extensive filtering.

Yet another advantage of this system is that the gasification systemproduces syngas with fewer contaminates, thereby resulting in lesscontamination buildup in an engine in which syngas is used.

Another advantage of this invention is that the syngas heater increasesthe efficiency of the engine without negatively impacting the reactorvessel.

These and other advantages can be realized with a system in accordancewith aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the plasma assisted gasification system.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the reactor vessel ofthe plasma assisted gasification system.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional upward viewing perspective view ofthe reactor vessel of the plasma assisted gasification system.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional downward viewing perspective view ofthe reactor vessel of the plasma assisted gasification system.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the agitator driveassembly.

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the agitator drive assembly.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the turbine configured to be positionedwithin the turbine assembly in the agitator drive assembly.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary site plan for the plasma assisted gasificationsystem.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the plasma assisted gasification system in astowed position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the plasma assisted gasification system in anoperating position.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view diagram of a reactor together a sealingsystem for a continuous feed system coupled to the reactor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention relate to gasification components,systems and associated methods that can enhance the performance of aplasma assisted gasification system. Embodiments according to aspects ofthe invention are shown in FIGS. 1-10, but the present invention is notlimited to the illustrated structure or application. Rather, thefollowing detailed description is intended only as exemplary.

As shown in FIGS. 1-11, a plasma assisted gasification system 10 havinga controlled zone gasification reactor 12 is disclosed for convertingfuel 142, such as, but not limited to, biomass, to electricity. Thegasification system 10 can create electricity from biomass by producingsyngas to replace the need for petroleum based fuels to engines, suchas, but not limited to, diesel engines and turbine engines 108. Theengines 108, as shown in FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, may operate at leastpartially on the syngas supplied by the syngas separation chamber. Thegasification system 10 may be a modular system housed within a frame 14facilitating relatively easy transportation. The gasification system 10may be a modular syngas powered power generation system 10 thatfacilitates easy shipment over land, sea, rail, or air, including beingair dropped to any destination. The frame 14 may have any appropriateconfiguration necessary to facilitate transportation of the system 10from manufacturing site to on-site location and between operation sites.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the plasma assisted gasification system 10 mayinclude a reactor vessel 16 having at least one inlet 44 and havingdistinct reaction zones 18, including, but not limited to, a pyrolysisreaction zone 20, a combustion reaction zone 24 and a carbon layersupport 32. The pyrolysis reaction zone 20 may be positioned upstream ofthe combustion reaction zone 24, and the combustion reaction zone 24 maybe positioned upstream of a carbon layer support 32. The pyrolysisreaction zone 20 may be positioned between an inner surface 48 of thereactor vessel 16, an outer surface 50 of a conduit 52, also referred toas a fuel hopper, forming the inlet 44, and a surface of the fuel 142,as shown in FIG. 2. The pyrolysis reaction zone 20 may include at leastone plasma torch 22. The pyrolysis reaction zone 20 may include adownstream shield 60 extending at least partially from an inner surface48 of the reactor vessel 16 towards the conduit 52 forming the inlet 44.The shield 60 prevents the fuel 142 from filing the pyrolysis reactionzone 20. The pyrolysis reaction zone 20 may be formed radially outwardfrom the conduit 52 forming the inlet 44. The combustion reaction zone24 may be defined by at least one rotatable burner 26 on an upstreamside 28 of the combustion reaction zone 24 such that the rotatableburner 26 is configured to rotate within the reactor vessel 16 to reducethe formation of burn channels in fuel 142 held in the reactor vessel16. The use of the burners 26 define the combustion reaction zone 24.The reactor vessel 16 may also include an ash collection zone 46positioned downstream from the carbon layer support 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the gasification system 10 may include one ormore plasma torches 22 positioned within the pyrolysis reaction zone 20.The plasma torch 22 may be positioned in any appropriate position. Inone embodiment, the plasma torch 22 may extend partially radiallyinward, and may be positioned nontangential and nonradial in a plane 56orthogonal to a longitudinal axis 54 of the reactor vessel 16, and theplasma torch 22 may be positioned in a downstream direction nonparallelto the longitudinal axis 54, thereby forming a helical pathway 58 ofpyrolysis gas, during use, within the fuel 142 contained in the reactorvessel 16. The plasma torch 22 may be positioned in a downstreamdirection nonparallel to the longitudinal axis 54 such that the plasmatorch 54 may be positioned between about 5 degrees and 20 degrees from aplane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 54 of the reactor vessel 16.In at least one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the gasificationsystem 10 may include a plurality of plasma torches 22. The plasma torch22 may be any appropriate plasma torch, such as, but not limited to, aburner with a flame temperature of at least about 850 degrees Celsius,such as but not limited to plasma burners. The ultraviolet emissionsfrom the electrically charged flame helps to break up leftoverhydrocarbons (tars) in the syngas exit region of the reactor vessel 16.

The combustion reaction zone 24 may be positioned downstream from thepyrolysis reaction zone 20 and may be defined by at least one rotatableburner 26 on an upstream side 28 of the combustion reaction zone 24 andon the downstream side by burned fuel 142 resting on the carbon supportlayer. The rotatable burner 26 may be configured to rotate within thereactor vessel 16 to reduce the formation of burn channels in fuel 142held in the reactor vessel 16. In one embodiment, the gasificationsystem 10 may include a plurality of rotatable burners that extendradially outward from an outer surface 62 of the conduit 64 forming aportion of the agitator drive assembly 40, which is described in moredetail below.

The carbon layer support 32 may be positioned downstream from thecombustion reaction zone 24. The carbon layer support 32 may bepositioned upstream from an outer wall forming the reaction vessel 16and defining the ash collection zone. The carbon layer support 32 may beformed from a porous material. In at least one embodiment, the carbonlayer support 32 may be formed from grating, expanded metal, or othermaterial having holes enabling ash to pass through the carbon layersupport and collect in an ash collection zone 46 positioned downstreamfrom the carbon layer support 32. The carbon layer support 32 may beformed from materials capable of withstanding the high temperatureenvironment within the reactor vessel 16, the materials including, butnot limited to, stainless steel, ceramics, cooled piping, ornickel-chromium based superalloys, such as, but not limited to, INCONEL.

As shown in FIG. 11, the plasma assisted gasification system 10 mayinclude one or more sealing systems 150 for a continuous feed system 152of the gasifier 154. The sealing system 150 may include a feedstocksupply manifold 156 in communication with an inlet 44 of the reactor154. The continuous feed system 152 enables the feedstock supplymanifold 156 to act as a feed dryer while also having an open feedstockinlet opening 158 yet sealing the reactor 154, thereby preventing theingestion of air via the feed inlet 44 to the reactor 154.

The feedstock supply manifold 156 may include a feedstock inlet opening158 that is open to an ambient environment. The feedstock supplymanifold 156 may have any appropriate size and configuration to house asufficient supply of feedstock such that the feedstock has sufficientresident time within the feedstock supply manifold 156 to be adequatelydried. The appropriate capacity of the feedstock supply manifold 156 andthe resident time are dependent on numerous factors, including, but notlimited to, the moisture content of the feedstock and the rate ofconsumption of feedstock by the reactor 154. The feedstock supplymanifold 156 may be in communication with an inlet 44 of a reactor 154,and the feedstock supply manifold 156 may include a feedstock inletopening 158 that is open to an ambient environment. In one embodiment,the feedstock supply manifold 156 may extend vertically from the inlet44 of the reactor 154 a distance of between about 10 feet and 20 feetand have a diameter between about two feet and four feet. The feedstocksupply manifold 156 is not limited to these size parameters. Thefeedstock supply manifold 156 may be formed from any material capable ofwithstanding the high temperatures in the reactor 154 and capable ofsupporting the feedstock contained therein.

The sealing system 150 may also include one or more pressuredistribution manifolds 160 in communication with the feedstock supplymanifold 156 and configured to receive fluid at a pressure higher thanambient conditions and supply the fluid to the feedstock supply manifold156. One or more pressure distribution manifolds 160 may be incommunication with the feedstock supply manifold 156. The pressuredistribution manifold 160 may be in communication with the feedstocksupply manifold 156 via an outlet opening 162 of the feedstock supplymanifold 156. The pressure distribution manifold 160 may be incommunication with the reactor 154 and may be in communication with thefeedstock supply manifold 156 via the reactor 154. As such, a firstpressure distribution manifold outlet 192 may be positioned at a firstend 194 in the reactor 154 so that fluid free flows into the reactor andinto the feedstock supply manifold 156. In at least one embodiment, thepressure distribution manifold 160 may be concentric with the feedstocksupply manifold 156. Thus, the feedstock supply manifold 156 may be, butis not limited to being, cylindrical, and the pressure distributionmanifold 160 may be, but is not limited to being, cylindrical. In such aconfiguration, the fluid flowing from the first pressure distributionmanifold outlet 192 into the reactor 154 turns 180 degrees around thefeedstock supply manifold 156 to flow into the feedstock supply manifold156. The pressure distribution manifold 160 may include a secondpressure distribution manifold outlet 194 positioned on an opposite endof the pressure distribution manifold 160 from the first pressuredistribution manifold outlet 192. The second pressure distributionmanifold outlet 194 may be in communication with one or more pressurerelief chambers 164 to prevent surplus fluid from being injected intothe feedstock supply manifold 156 by releasing the fluid into thepressure relief chambers 164.

One or more pressure relief chambers 164 may be in fluid communicationwith the feedstock supply manifold 156. The pressure relief chamber 164may be positioned downstream from the feedstock supply manifold 156 andthe pressure distribution manifold 160. In at least one embodiment, thepressure relief chamber 164 may be concentric with the feedstock supplymanifold 156. Thus, the pressure relief chamber 164 may be, but is notlimited to being, cylindrical. A pressure relief chamber inlet 196 maybe in communication with a second pressure distribution manifold outlet194. In at least one embodiment, the pressure relief chambers 164 mayextend from the pressure distribution manifold 160 to the feedstockinlet opening 158. In at least one embodiment, the pressure distributionmanifold 160 may be concentric about the feedstock inlet opening 158.Thus, the pressure distribution manifold 160 may be cylindrical. In sucha configuration, the pressure distribution manifold 160 surrounds thefeedstock supply manifold 156. When exhaust gases from an engine 108 areused to feed the pressure distribution manifold, the exhaust gases heatthe feedstock supply manifold 156, thereby causing the pressure reliefchamber 164 to function as a heater on the feedstock supply manifold156.

The sealing system 150 may include one or more high pressure fluidsources 166 in communication with at least one inlet 168 in the pressuredistribution manifold 160 to supply fluid at a pressure higher than afluid pressure of gases in the ambient environment. In at least oneembodiment, the high pressure fluid source may be, but is not limited tobeing exhaust gas from the engine 108, which may be, but is not limitedto being, a diesel engine.

The sealing system 150 may include one or more chimneys 170 in fluidcommunication with a pressure relief outlet 172 of the pressure reliefchamber 164 via an exhaust plenum 174. The exhaust plenum 174 mayinclude an exhaust plenum inlet opening 176 through which the feedstocksupply manifold 156 extends and to which the outlet 172 of the pressurerelief chamber 164 is attached. The exhaust plenum 174 may extendorthogonally from the feedstock supply manifold 156 and the pressurerelief chamber 164. The exhaust plenum 174 may include a orifice throughwhich the feedstock supply manifold 156 extends. As such, the feedstocksupply manifold 156 may extend vertically through the exhaust plenum 174while a pressure relief outlet 172 is coupled to the exhaust plenum 174to exhaust fluid into the exhaust plenum. The chimney 170 and theexhaust plenum 174 may have any appropriate configuration, including,but not limited to, cylindrical and rectangular. The chimney may extendvertically from the exhaust plenum 174. One or more exhaust fans 178 maybe in communication with the chimney 170 and may be positioned toexhaust fluid through an exhaust outlet 180 of the chimney 170 and topull fluid from the pressure relief chamber 164. The exhaust fan 178 maybe any appropriate fan capable of withstanding the high temperatureenvironment. A high pressure line 200 may extend from the engine 108, orother source downstream from the engine 108, to the chimney 170 toassist the draft created within the chimney 170 and to release surplushigh pressure fluid from the pressure distribution manifold 160.

The sealing system 150 may include one or more upper high pressure fluidinlets 182 in the feedstock supply manifold 156 positioned between thefeedstock inlet opening 158 and an outlet opening 162 of the feedstocksupply manifold 160. The upper high pressure fluid inlet 182 may bepositioned between an upper feedstock level 188 and the feedstock inletopening 158 of the feedstock supply manifold 156.

The sealing system 150 may include one or more auxiliary plasma torches190 extending into the feedstock supply manifold 156 and positionedbetween an upper feedstock level 188 and an feedstock inlet opening 158of the feedstock supply manifold 156. The auxiliary plasma torches 190may be configured to be similar the plasma torch 22. As such, theauxiliary plasma torches 190 may be any appropriate plasma torch, suchas, but not limited to, a burner with a flame temperature of at leastabout 1,300 degrees Celsius, such as but not limited to plasma burners.The auxiliary plasma torches 190 burn any contaminants, such as but notlimited to biological waste contaminants, that might escape with theexhaust fluids through the feedstock supply manifold 156.

The gasification system 10 may include a syngas cleaning system 138 forremoving contaminants from the syngas before the syngas is passeddownstream of the reactor vessel 16 to the engine 108. The syngascleaning system 138 may be formed from a syngas recycler 136 positionedin the reactor vessel 16 for routing syngas together with contaminantsfrom a region downstream of the carbon layer support 32 to thecombustion reaction zone 24. The syngas recycler 136 may be formed froma syngas separation chamber 36 and at least one burner 26. The syngasseparation chamber 36 may be positioned within the reactor vessel 16 toseparate contaminants created during combustion in the combustionreaction zone 24 from the syngas.

The gasification system 10 may include an agitator drive assembly 40, asshown in FIGS. 2-4 and in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, positioned in thereactor vessel 16, extending into the combustion reaction zone 24 anddefining at least a portion of the combustion reaction zone 24 with atleast one burner 26. A portion of the agitator drive assembly 40 may beformed from a conduit 64 that is hollow. The agitator drive assembly 40may be rotatable, and in at least one embodiment, may be rotatable aboutthe longitudinal axis 54 of the reactor vessel 16 to prevent theformation of burn channels in the fuel 142 in the reactor vessel 16. Theagitator drive assembly 40 may include a drive gear 68 attached to abottom portion of the agitator drive assembly 40. The drive gear 68 mayinclude reduction gears 70 configured to drive the agitator driveassembly 40 at a rotational speed of less than about two revolutions perminute. The agitator drive assembly 40 may be driven by a motor, suchas, but not limited to, an electric motor.

The agitator drive assembly 40 may include one or more burners 26, andin at least one embodiment, may include a plurality of burners 26. Theburners 26 may extend radially outward from the outer surface 62 of theconduit 64 forming a portion of the agitator drive assembly 40. One ormore of the plurality of burners 26 may be formed from a cylinder 72having an inlet 74 positioned at an inner surface 76 or positionedradially inward from the inner surface 76 of the conduit 64 forming theportion of the agitator drive assembly 40. The burner 26 may include anoutlet 78 formed from a diagonal cut through the cylinder 72, whereinthe outlet 78 faces away from the pyrolysis reaction zone 20. In oneembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the agitator drive assembly 40may be formed from four cylindrical burners 26 extending radiallyoutward from the conduit 64 forming the portion of the agitator driveassembly 40. The agitator drive assembly 40 may include other number ofburners 26 other than four burners 26.

The agitator drive assembly 40 may include one or more ambient airsupplies 80 that includes an outlet 82 in fluid communication with atleast one of the plurality of burners 26 upstream from the burner outlet78. An inlet 84 of the ambient air supply 80 may be positioned outsideof the reactor vessel 16 to draw ambient air into the system 10 asneeded. As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the ambient air supply 80 may include oneor more ambient air supplies 80 in direct fluid communication with eachof the plurality of burners 26. In one embodiment, each ambient airsupply 80 may be a conduit 86. The conduit 86 may extend from an outersealing plate 88 through a carbon layer support seal plate 90 to eachburner 26. The conduits 86 may form four corners of an turbine assembly92. The conduits 86 may be coupled together with sidewalls 94 having oneor more orifices 96. The conduits 86 may extend through at least aportion of the combustion reaction zone 24 thereby forming an ambientair preheater that preheats the air before it is discharged into thecombustion reaction zone 24 for combustion.

As shown in FIG. 5, the gasification system 10 may include a syngasseparation chamber 36 for separating combustion products, such as tar,from the syngas. In at least one embodiment, the gasification system 10positioned in the hollow portion of the agitator drive assembly 40 maybe configured to separate contaminants from syngas such that syngas withcontaminants are passed into one or more burners 26. The syngasseparation chamber 36 may be positioned downstream from the burners 26.

In addition, the gasification system 10 may include a centrifuge device,which may be, but is not limited to being, a turbine 98, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, positioned within a turbine housing 100 upstream from thesyngas separation chamber 36. The turbine housing 100 may be positionedwithin the turbine assembly 92. During operation, the turbine 98 drawssyngas through the orifices 96 in the sidewalls 94 forming the turbineassembly 92. When assembled, the orifices 96 may be positioneddownstream of the carbon layer support 32 within the syngas collectionchamber 114 of the ash collection zone 46. The turbine 98 may beconfigured to operate at any appropriate speed and may be driven withmotor, such as, but not limited to, an electric motor or a hydraulicmotor. In at least one embodiment, the turbine 98 may operate between10,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 30,000 rpm. The turbine 98 mayhave any appropriate configuration with any appropriate number ofblades. The turbine 98 may be cooled, as appropriate, and in at leastone embodiment, may be oil cooled. The turbine assembly 92 may be formedfrom a plurality of sidewalls 94 forming a chamber that extends from thecarbon layer support 32 to the outer seal plate 88 positioned at thereactor vessel 16. The sidewalls 94, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, may includeone or more orifices 96 acting as inlets to the turbine 98. Duringoperation, use of the turbine 98 separates syngas from contaminants inthe syngas, such as, but not limited to, dust and tar, such that thecontaminants are located near an outer wall 102 defining the syngasseparation chamber 36 and relatively uncontaminated syngas is locatedcloser to a longitudinal axis 54 of the syngas separation chamber 36.Removal of the dust and tar from the syngas prevents the dust frombecoming molten in the pyrolysis reaction zone 20 and causing a problemin the engine 108 and the syngas filter 106. During use, the turbine 98may also provide a boost of about 2-5 pounds per square inch (psi) tothe syngas stream. The turbine 98 may create a multiplying effect on thereactor vessel 16.

A syngas exhaust conduit 104 may be positioned within the agitator driveassembly 40 to pass syngas having been cleaned in the syngas separationchamber 36 downstream to a syngas filter 106 and on to an engine 108.The syngas exhaust conduit 104 may have an inlet 110 positioned upstreamfrom an inlet 74 to the burner 26, whereby the inlet 110 to the syngasexhaust conduit 104 may be positioned radially inward from inner wallsforming the syngas separation chamber 36 and the inlet 74 to the burner26 may be positioned radially outward from the syngas exhaust conduit104. In such as position, syngas pulled through the turbine 98 isexhausted downstream and contaminants are centrifuged out. As such, thehigh rotational velocity of the syngas that passed through the turbine98 causes combustion byproducts, such as dust and tar, to be collectedalongside the inner surface of the wall forming the syngas separationchamber 36. The clean syngas located relatively close to thelongitudinal axis 54 of the syngas separation chamber 36 flows into thesyngas exhaust conduit 104, and the syngas together with the combustionbyproduct, tar, are passed into the inlets 74 of the burners 26.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the gasification system 10 may include one ormore syngas heaters 34 for heating the syngas before it reaches theengine 108. In one embodiment, the agitator drive assembly 40 mayinclude one or more syngas heaters 34 with an inlet 112 in fluidcommunication with the syngas collection chamber 114 of the ashcollection zone 46. The syngas heater 34 may be configured to heat thesyngas before the syngas is passed to the engine 108 to increase theefficiencies of the system 10. In at least one embodiment, the syngasheater 34 may be positioned in the pyrolysis reaction zone 20 such thatheat from the pyrolysis reaction zone 20 heats syngas flowing throughthe syngas heater 34. The syngas heater 34 may be formed from one ormore conduits 116 in direct fluid communication with the syngascollection chamber 114. The conduit 116 may extend from the syngascollection chamber 114 through the carbon layer support 32, through thecombustion reaction zone 24 and into the pyrolysis reaction zone 20. Asshown in FIGS. 2-4, the conduit 116 may extend from an end 118 of thesyngas exhaust conduit 104.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the conduit 116 forming the syngas heater 34 maybe formed from a conduit 116 that is positioned, at least in part,radially outward from the inlet conduit 52 forming at least a portion ofthe inlet 44 of the reactor vessel 16. The conduit 116 forming thesyngas heater 34 may have one or more outlets 120 in the pyrolysisreaction zone 20, and, in at least one embodiment, the conduit 116forming the syngas heater 34 may have a plurality of outlets 120 in thepyrolysis reaction zone 20. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the outlets 120 inthe pyrolysis reaction zone 20 may be formed from a plurality of exhaustorifices 122 positioned in each of the outlets 120. As such, syngas isexhausted into the pyrolysis reaction zone 20 before being passed on tothe engine 108. The conduit 116 may be formed from one or more exhaustconduits 124 having a support bearing 126 that bears on an outer surface50 of the feed inlet conduit 52 forming at least a portion of the inlet44 of the reactor vessel 16. The exhaust conduit 124 may be formed froma plurality of exhaust conduits 124, each extending radially outwardwith an axially extending portion having a support bearing 126 thatbears on the outer surface 50 of the feed inlet conduit 52. In at leastone embodiment, the plurality of exhaust conduits 124 form four exhaustconduits 124 extending radially outward from a central conduit, whichmay be, but is not limited to being, the syngas exhaust conduit 104,wherein the four exhaust conduits 124 are equally spaced from each otheror positioned in another configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the gasification system 10 may be a modularsystem housed within a frame 14 facilitating relatively easytransportation. The frame 14 may have any appropriate configurationnecessary to facilitate transportation of the system 10 from amanufacturing site to an on-site location and between usage sites. Theframe 14 may be configured to form a trailer upon which at least aportion of the system 10 or the entirety of the system 10 may be housed.In at least one embodiment, the frame 14 may be a trailer sized andconstructed in conformity with applicable laws such that the trailer maybe pulled on the roadways. In at least one embodiment, components of thesystem 10, including the reactor vessel 16, the engine 108, thegenerator 128, and the syngas filter 106 may be positioned on the frame14 such that when the system 10 is positioned in a stowed position, asshown in FIG. 9, the components of the system 10 are contained withinthe frame 14 such that the frame 14 may be towed on a highway withoutcomponents in risk of being destroyed. The frame 14 may also be insertedinto a fully enclosed shipping container. In at least one embodiment,the frame 14, in a stowed position, may have outer dimensions less thaninner dimensions of standard 40 foot shipping container and therefore,may be configured to fit within a 40 foot long shipping container. Assuch, the system 10 may be shipped over land, rail, sea, air and airdropped to any destination. Such mobility enables the system 10 to bebuilt in quality controlled facilities and shipped to the destination ofchoice for use, thereby enabling power to be made available to desolatelocations throughout the world. Such mobility of the system 10 couldmake it possible to make significant progress towards supplying costefficient power to villages, desolate populations and third worldcountries.

The system 10 may also include an electric generator 128 incommunication with the engine 108 and configured to generate electricityfrom a rotating drive shaft of the engine 108. The generator 128 mayhave be any appropriate generator and may be sized based on the powerdemands, the size of the reactor vessel 16 and other appropriatefactors. The engine 108, which may be, but is not limited to being, aturbine engine and a diesel engine, may operate at least partially onthe syngas supplied by the syngas separation chamber 36. The electricgenerator 128 may be in communication with the engine 108 and configuredto generate electricity from rotating components, such as the driveshaft, of the engine 108.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the gasification system 10 may include a fueldryer 130 in communication with and positioned upstream from the reactorvessel 16. In particular, the fuel dryer 130 may be positioned upstreamfrom the inlet 44 to the reactor vessel 16. The heat source may beexhaust gases from the engine 108. In particular, an exhaust gas inlet132 in the dryer 130 places exhaust from the engine 108 in fluidcommunication with the fuel dryer 130 such that exhaust gases may bepassed to the dryer 130 to dry the fuel 142. As such, the inlet 44 tothe reactor vessel 16 may be sealed with fuel 142 and exhaust gases fromthe engine 108 sealing off the possible leakage of outside air withoxygen into the reactor vessel 16 through the inlet 44. In particular,exhaust gases may be passed into the fuel 142 contained within the fueldryer 130, and together the exhaust flowing upstream through the fuel142 positioned in the dryer 130 forms a dynamic seal for thegasification system 10. Thus, a conventional rigid seal is no longerrequired and fuel 142 may be more easily supplied to the gasificationsystem 10 via hand or automated system without the use of an airlock.

The automated fuel delivery system may be formed from one or moresystems having sensors that determine whether fuel contained within thefuel conduit 52 is within acceptable levels. If not, appropriatecorrection is made to add fuel into the fuel conduit 52. The fuel levelmay be monitored continuously, periodically, or at random time periods.The gasification system 10 may also include a fuel shredder 134 incommunication with and positioned upstream from the fuel dryer 130. Thefuel shredder 134 may be any appropriate device configured to shredfuel. The gasification system 10 may include multiple fuel shredders134, whereby at least some of the fuel shredders 134 may be adapted foruse with different type of fuels, such as rubbish, tires, wood chips andthe like.

The gasification system 10 may also include one or more syngas filters106 in fluid communication with the plasma assisted gasificationreaction chamber 16 and positioned downstream from the carbon layersupport 32. The syngas filter 106 may be formed from a water basedscrubber that quickly quenches the syngas after formation to limit theformation of NOx.

During use, the gasification system 10 may be transported to a usagesite, as shown in the exemplary site plan in FIG. 8. The gasificationsystem may be shipped via transportation modes, including, but notlimited to, truck, trailer, rail, air or ship. The gasification system10 may also be airdropped into remote locales where delivery by land orsea based transportation modes are not feasible. The gasification system10 may be tilted from a stowed position, as shown in FIG. 9, into anoperating position, as shown in FIG. 10. Due to the weight of thegasification system 10, the gasification system 10 should be placed overa pad, such as a concrete slab, with sufficient footer support toprovide an adequate foundation upon which the gasification system may beoperated.

During start-up of the gasification system 10, shredded fuel is placedinto the fuel dryer 130. The fuel may be, but is not limited to,rubbish, household waste, industrial waste, tires, and wood chips andliquid or gasious fuels may be injected into the pyrolysis reaction zone20 or mixed with other fuels before being inputted into the reactorvessel 16. In some situations, shredded fuel may be provided, therebyeliminating the need to shred the fuel before use. The diesel engine 108may be run on diesel fuel at idle speed for about five to ten minutes towarm-up after which the diesel engine 108 may be run at operating speedand may generate electricity using the generator 128. With electricitybeing generated, the plasma torches 22 may be fired up. Additionally,the control systems and other subsystems of the gasification system 10,such as, but not limited to, the turbine 98 and the agitator driveassembly 40, may be fired. As the diesel engine 108 is operating,exhaust from the diesel engine 108 is routed to the fuel dryer 130 tobegin to dry the fuel. The reactor vessel 16 is heated with the plasmatorches 22. As the reactor vessel 16 and plasma torches 22 heat up,pyrolysis gas and steam begin to form and may be routed through thesyngas filter 106 and burned off using a flare 140. The flare 140 may befueled with any appropriate fuel, such as, but not limited to, propane,diesel fuel, a combination of both fuels, another fuel source or acombination of these listed fuels and other fuels. Once the chamberwithin the reactor vessel 16 is hot enough to generate usable syngas,the flared gas being burned in the flare 140 will ignite, therebyproducing a larger flame at the flare 140, which acts as a visualindicator. Such an increase in the size of the flare 140 is anindication that the syngas can be used in a diesel engine 108. Thediesel engine 108 may be synchronized to an external power grid orswitched onto an external power load. The desired power level may beset.

Once the engine 108 has been activated, fluid, such as, but not limitedto, exhaust gases may be routed from the engine 108 to the pressuredistribution manifold 160. The exhaust gases fill the pressuredistribution manifold 160, which in at least one embodiment, means thatexhaust gases surround the portion of the feedstock supply manifold 156surrounded by the pressure distribution manifold 160. The exhaust gasesflow into the reactor 154 and directly into the feedstock supplymanifold 156. The exhaust gases heat the feedstock contained in thefeedstock supply manifold 156 and dry the feedstock. The exhaust gasesalso prevent air from the environment from entering the feedstock supplymanifold 156, thereby acting as a seal for the feedstock supply manifold156 without having to use a mechanical seal.

During operation, the content of oxygen in the engine exhaust gas shouldbe no more than two percent. Controlling the oxygen percentage in theexhaust gas controls the syngas production in the reactor vessel 16. Theflow of syngas to the flare 140 may be cutoff and rerouted to the fuelintake of the diesel engine 108 by closing a valve to the flare 140 andopening a valve to the fuel intake of the diesel engine 108. If thegenerator 128 operates under full load and only on diesel fuel, thegovernor of the diesel engine 108 should cut back diesel consumption toapproximately ten percent of the original consumption. The desired powerlevel may be established using a syngas valve. The fuel level in thefuel dryer 130 may be monitored visually, with sensors or otherappropriate method, and fuel may be added as needed with automated ormanual systems.

During operation, temperature levels, pressure levels, water supply andoil supply may be monitored. Bearing grease and oil may be supplied to adrive bearing on the agitator drive assembly 40. The temperature of thefuel dyer 130 may be set with a diesel engine exhaust bypass valve. Thepreheat temperature and the temperature in the pyrolysis reaction zone20 can be set by a reactor preheat valve in an exhaust bypass chamber.The height of the carbon layer formed on the carbon layer support 32 maybe adjusted using a carbon layer control 141. In at least oneembodiment, the carbon layer control 141 may be formed from one or moreagitating devices, such as a hinge arm, for shaking the carbon layersupport 32 such that ash can fall through the carbon layer support 32and collect in the ash collection zone 46. The ash may be removed fromthe ash collection zone 46 when necessary through one or more valvesenabling ash to be removed without creating unregulated flow of ambientair into the ash collection zone 46.

The gasification system 10 may be shutdown by first allowing all of thefuel in the feed inlet conduit 52 to be used in the reactor vessel 16without replenishing the fuel. In at least one embodiment, this entailsceasing the deposit of fuel in the feed inlet conduit 52 about 90minutes before the desired shutdown time. As syngas production ceases,the diesel fuel consumption will increase as regulated by the governoron the diesel engine. When syngas delivery is too low for desiredoperation, the electricity and fuel to the plasma torches 22 may beshutoff, and the load from the generator may be disconnected. The dieselengine 108 may be operated at idle until the reactor vessel 16 is burnedclean, and the reactor temp drops to about 300 degrees Celsius. Allcooling systems within the gasification system 10 should be operateduntil the reactor vessel 16 is cold to prevent damage. Filters may bereplaced as needed.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificdetails described herein, which are given by way of example only, andthat various modifications and alterations are possible within the scopeof the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A sealing system for a continuous feed system of a gasifier,comprising: a feedstock supply manifold in communication with an inletof a reactor, wherein the feedstock supply manifold includes a feedstockinlet opening that is open to an ambient environment; at least onepressure distribution manifold in communication with the feedstocksupply manifold; at least one pressure relief chamber in fluidcommunication with the feedstock supply manifold, wherein the at leastone pressure relief chamber is positioned downstream from the feedstocksupply manifold and the pressure distribution manifold; wherein the atleast one pressure distribution manifold is configured to supply fluidat a pressure higher than in the ambient environment; at least one highpressure fluid source in communication with at least one inlet in the atleast one pressure distribution manifold to supply fluid at a pressurehigher than a fluid pressure of gases in the ambient environment;wherein the reactor comprises a reactor vessel, comprising: the inlet; apyrolysis reaction zone positioned between an inner surface of thereactor vessel and an outer surface of the feedstock supply manifold,wherein the pyrolysis reaction zone includes at least one plasma torch;a combustion reaction zone defined by at least one rotatable burner onan upstream side of the combustion reaction zone, wherein the rotatableburner is configured to rotate within the reactor vessel to reduce theformation of burn channels in fuel held in the reactor vessel; a carbonlayer support, wherein the pyrolysis reaction zone is positionedupstream of the combustion reaction zone, and the combustion reactionzone is positioned upstream of the carbon layer support; and an ashcollection zone positioned downstream from the carbon layer support. 2.The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressuredistribution manifold is in communication with the feedstock supplymanifold via an outlet opening of the feedstock supply manifold.
 3. Thesealing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressuredistribution manifold is concentric with the feedstock supply manifold.4. The sealing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one pressurerelief chamber is concentric with the feedstock supply manifold.
 5. Thesealing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure reliefchamber is concentric with the feedstock supply manifold.
 6. The sealingsystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure distributionmanifold is in communication with the reactor and is in communicationwith the feedstock supply manifold via the reactor.
 7. The sealingsystem of claim 1, further comprising a chimney in fluid communicationwith an outlet of the at least one pressure relief chamber via anexhaust plenum.
 8. The sealing system of claim 7, wherein the exhaustplenum includes an exhaust plenum inlet opening through which thefeedstock supply manifold extends and to which an outlet of the at leastone pressure relief chamber is attached.
 9. The sealing system of claim1, further comprising an exhaust fan in communication with a chimney andpositioned to exhaust fluid through the exhaust outlet of the chimneyand to pull fluid from the at least one pressure relief chamber.
 10. Thesealing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one high pressure fluidsource in communication with at least one inlet in the at least onepressure distribution manifold is exhaust gas from at least one dieselengine.
 11. The sealing system of claim 1, further comprising at leastone upper high pressure fluid inlet in the feedstock supply manifoldpositioned between the inlet and an outlet of the feedstock supplymanifold.
 12. The sealing system of claim 11, wherein the at least oneupper high pressure fluid inlet is positioned between an upper feedstocklevel and the inlet of the feedstock supply manifold.
 13. The sealingsystem of claim 1, further comprising at least one auxiliary plasmatorch extending into the feedstock supply manifold and positionedbetween an upper feedstock level and an inlet of the feedstock supplymanifold.
 14. A sealing system for a continuous feed system of agasifier, comprising: a feedstock supply manifold in communication withan inlet of a reactor, wherein the feedstock supply manifold includes afeedstock inlet opening that is open to an ambient environment; at leastone pressure distribution manifold in communication with the feedstocksupply manifold; at least one pressure relief chamber in fluidcommunication with the feedstock supply manifold, wherein the at leastone pressure relief chamber is positioned downstream from the feedstocksupply manifold and the pressure distribution manifold; wherein the atleast one pressure distribution manifold is configured to supply fluidat a pressure higher than in the ambient environment; at least one highpressure fluid source in communication with at least one inlet in the atleast one pressure distribution manifold to supply fluid at a pressurehigher than a fluid pressure of gases in the ambient environment;wherein the reactor comprises a plasma assisted gasification reactionchamber, comprising: a reactor vessel having a pyrolysis reaction zone,a combustion reaction zone, a carbon layer support and the inlet,wherein the pyrolysis reaction zone is positioned upstream of thecombustion reaction zone and includes at least one plasma torch, and thecombustion reaction zone is positioned upstream of the carbon layersupport; an agitator drive assembly positioned in the reactor vesselextending into the combustion reaction zone and defining at least aportion of the combustion reaction zone with at least one burner;wherein at least a portion of the agitator drive assembly includes ahollow portion and is formed from a conduit; and a syngas separationchamber positioned in the hollow portion of the agitator drive assemblyconfigured to separate contaminants from syngas such that syngas withcontaminants are passed into the at least one burner.
 15. A sealingsystem for a continuous feed system of a gasifier, comprising: afeedstock supply manifold in communication with an inlet of a reactor,wherein the feedstock supply manifold includes a feedstock inlet openingthat is open to an ambient environment; at least one pressuredistribution manifold in communication with the feedstock supplymanifold; at least one pressure relief chamber in fluid communicationwith the feedstock supply manifold, wherein the at least one pressurerelief chamber is positioned downstream from the feedstock supplymanifold and the pressure distribution manifold; wherein the at leastone pressure distribution manifold is configured to supply fluid at apressure higher than in the ambient environment; at least one highpressure fluid source in communication with at least one inlet in the atleast one pressure distribution manifold to supply fluid at a pressurehigher than a fluid pressure of gases in the ambient environment;wherein the reactor comprises a plasma assisted gasification reactionchamber, comprising: a reactor vessel having a pyrolysis reaction zone,a combustion reaction zone, a carbon layer support, a syngas collectionchamber and the inlet, wherein the pyrolysis reaction zone is positionedupstream of the combustion reaction zone and includes at least oneplasma torch, the combustion reaction zone is positioned upstream ofcarbon layer support, and the carbon layer support is positionedupstream of the syngas collection chamber; and a syngas heater with aninlet in fluid communication with the syngas collection chamber, whereinthe syngas heater is positioned in the pyrolysis reaction zone such thatheat from the pyrolysis reaction zone heats syngas flowing through thesyngas heater.